When Visa upgrades its systems twice a year, 50,000 changes requiring 150,000 man-hours typically take place. Those changes might include measures to increase speed, improve security or add new features.

For instance, upgrades in 2014 and 2015 allowed banks to issue and merchants to accept more secure chip-and-PIN cards.

So the next time you swipe, or scan, or type, consider that "Transaction complete” for what it really is —work requiring thousands of gallons of coffee to power the behind-the-scenes payments brains at Visa.

Watch the video to get an inside look at what it takes to upgrade our systems.

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About VisaNet

Our electronic payments network is the largest in the world. What can it tell you about the future?